The Rivergreen Centre, Durham - Client: Rivergreen Developments plc

The brief for the Rivergreen Centre on the outskirts of Durham was for a serviced office and conference building that was an exemplar both in terms of being a healthy and pleasurable place in which to work and the minimising of its impact on its immediate surroundings and the wider global environment.

This landmark development creates 40,000sqft of managed office and conference space where the planning, orientation, massing, structure, materials selection and building services are all designed to deliver sustainable, environmental and performance benefits. Such features include a central 'earth rammed' wall, recycled rainwater, natural and stack ventilation and an extensive growing roof. The development has received a number of regional and national awards for sustainable design and is seen as an exemplar for low impact design throughout the country.

Despite the site’s greenfield, out of town location the scheme has been awarded a BREEAM rating of “Excellent”.